Nutrients and Natural Substances for Hypoglycemic Effects and Management in Diabetic Retinopathy

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a significant microvascular consequence of diabetes mellitus (DM), resulting in visual impairment and blindness. Controlling hyperglycemia is essential for avoiding and alleviating diabetic retinopathy. Nutrients and natural compounds possessing hypoglycemic characteristics present promising supplementary approaches to conventional therapies. This review assesses the influence of nutrients and natural substances on glycemic regulation and their possible effects on diabetic retinopathy.

Goal: To investigate and consolidate knowledge about nutrients and natural compounds exhibiting hypoglycemic properties and their processes in the prevention and management of diabetic retinopathy.

Approaches: Extensive reviews were conducted on pertinent studies from databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Selection criteria encompassed papers that examined natural substances, nutrients, or dietary supplements exhibiting effects on blood glucose levels and pathways associated to diabetic retinopathy. Principal findings were encapsulated according to their mechanisms, efficacy, and safety.

Outcomes: Numerous foods, including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and polyphenols (e.g., curcumin, resveratrol), have hypoglycemic properties by improving insulin sensitivity and diminishing oxidative stress. Natural substances like berberine, quercetin, and flavonoids demonstrate analogous effects, influencing pathways associated with inflammation, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and angiogenesis, which are critical factors in the evolution of diabetic retinopathy (DR). The synergistic benefits of integrating natural medicines with conventional antidiabetic medications may enhance glycemic control and reduce retinal damage. The safety profiles of these therapies are predominantly positive; nonetheless, clinical trials are still constrained in both breadth and scale.

Conclusions: Nutrients and natural compounds are promising supplementary approaches for glycemic regulation and the therapy of diabetic retinopathy. Additional research, encompassing extensive clinical studies, is required to substantiate their efficacy, determine optimal dose, and verify long-term safety. The use of these natural substances into clinical practice may improve comprehensive management of diabetes and associated consequences.

Keywords: antioxidants; diabetic retinopathy; glycemic regulation; hypoglycemia; inflammation; natural compounds; nutrition.

Figure 1

Pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy. Key mechanisms include oxidative stress, inflammation, AGE accumulation, and VEGF-driven neovascularization, leading to vascular dysfunction, neurodegeneration, and vision loss.